Customer Reviews

Resurrecting Democracy

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Dr. Levine's book finds itself in the mainstream of the problems and issues facing America today. We are deadlocked in a battle of self-manufactured absolutes, across a landscape of mutual ill-will. Some sort of referee is needed. Resurrecting Democracy suggests how a third party can break the tie. Can bring some level of sanity back into our system of Democracy. It is an important take on a possible solution to what looks like an insurmountable problem. Thank you Dr. Levine!

If you have been living in a cave, have not cared, or have simply not known what needs to be done with the current blight in American politics ... Once you've read this book you will be enlightened, angered and energized as to what needs to be done to fix our country's broken political system. Robert Levine has clear vision of the failings in our political system and its politicians and has presented to us what needs to be done in his book `Resurrecting Democracy... A Citizen's Call for a Centrist Third Party'. He has gathered much information about how our system's workings have transgressed from its inception. How our two party system is being run by politicians who care more about themselves than what is good for all of us. He explains in depth as to how to fix our broken system, which starts with creating a third political party, whose participants will once again work for the best interests of the people. Let's get our great country headed in the right direction. Read this book !!!

In these days of ideology and partisan-based new and old media commentary, it's extremely hard to find a book that lays out solid information, is packed with research that recounts and analyzes current events, is reliable as a valuable reference tool for anyone of any party or ideology, and is written in a style that's lively but as seriously and skillfully as columns by the Washington Post's late David Broder. Now there is a book that does just that. It has gotten less publicity than it deserves since it doesn't have a built ideological constituency -- no left or right talk show hosts to promote it and not a bunch of left or right blogs to hype it (particularly because some blogs won't run posts unless all ideas fit a certain viewpoint).

The book is Resurrecting Democracy, by Robert A. Levine (who also writes on TMV as a Guest Voice columnist). And don't let its subtitle, "A Citizens Call for a Centrist Third Party" fool you. No, this is not yet another pie-in-the-sky book written by someone wanting a third party, not one more seeming political intellectual exercise that totally ignores the realities about events and how our system's set up favories the two parties, interest groups and lobbyists. In fact, Levine's genius is that his book comes alive -- due to meticulous research about news stories and event and easy to grasp yet not condescending info about the American political system works. He makes his pitch for a third party hard to put down for any political junkie, or anyone even remotely interested in politics.

A Vietnam vet and a Columbia history major who became a medical doctor, Levine tackles the issue of knee-jerk partisanship (which often ends in the emphasis of the second word in that three word phrase), a system corrupted by lobbyists and big money, gridlock -- and more. His key argument -- skillfully crafted and made -- is that it'll take a new centrist party to restore democracy to a more pristine, responsive, effective and productive form. Resurrecting Democracy reads like a solid, engrossing newspaper column rather than a dry academic treatise or yet one more book about third parties that isn't grounded in political or institutional reality. Levine enlightens rather than talks down or panders to his readers.

It's a must own for political junkies, political activists of all parties, journalists, partisans but especially for Americans of all kinds who feel our political system has become corrupt and inert and who wonder why and what might be done about it.

If you don't believe me, how about this review on Amazon.com written by Carl Stern (former NBC News correspondent)."It is hard to believe so much useful information is packed into one book. Dr. Levine whom I have known for 50 years has assembled a primer on the sclerotic condition of the American political system and prescribed the therapy it needs to get back on its feet..."

How much do I like Resurrecting Democracy? I'm going to gift my copy to a friend -- and then order the eBook copy so it'll be on my Kindle, which I carry with me when I travel. It's worth reading, re-reading and using as a reference. I bet Dr. Levine got an "A" in history -- and I'm giving it five stars on TMV's scale of five stars (but it deserves a 10).

'Dr. Levine's excellent new book, like his previous book (Shock Therapy For The American Health Care System), presents a detailed vision of its topic based on well-researched and well-organized background information, and it has already attracted wide attention. The author's letter introducing the book was published in the New York Times (December 28, 2011) and then reprinted on January 1 as the focus of that newspaper's "Sunday Dialogue" feature. Although concerns expressed by responding readers suggest that the book's call-to-action may not resonate across the board, the book itself will be valuable to all interested in American politics. In addition to its forceful polemic, it includes an essay on the current state of democracy; a "Recent History of American Political Parties"; and fast-moving chapters on America's challenges, foreign and domestic. Dr. Levine is a visionary thinker, and he has brought forth a thoughtful and thought-provoking proposal.

In Resurrecting Democracy the reader gets a first rate primer on all the ills befalling our nation at this time. But, unlike others Dr. Levine lays out a rational program for trying to resolve our issues. Those of us who are disaffected Republicans, Democrats or Independents need to coalesce and create a 'lever' that will move the major parties toward understanding that re-election is not the only job to which congress or the president were elected. The spirit of compromise has been lost and if not recovered soon will result in further stagnation both economic and social. It doesn't require a majority - it requires enough people of common sense in the middle to nudge the major forces to seek rational solutions.

I wasn't too surprised to hear that "pragmatism" is Webster's most searched word this year. And "search" is the operative notion. I'm sick of the partisan ideology that suffocates Washington, and Bob Levine has some pragmatic ideas about getting democracy breathing again. Because he takes a historical approach, his arguments are reasonable, American, and fixed on problem solving, not advancing the vested (monied) interests. In an internet era, Big Money will make its play, but the People who are informed and engaged are worth far more and because the internet is free, therein lies the real power.
When you read it, you may have the occasional feeling of deja vu, just because you've been thinking along these lines already---unless you're a plutocrat or a member of congress, of course.

With the gridlock in Washington and the inability of the Republicans and Democrats to get anything done, Resurrecting Democracy is a timely book that shows Americans why a centrist third party is needed and how it could be set up. Robert Levine's book presents a lucid picture of the process and makes it seem like a no-brainer. If the nation's decline is to be prevented, more Americans have to get involved in politics and Resurrecting Democracy describes a way to make people's votes count again.

Robert Levine's book is so relevant right now! The mess in Washington is hopefully curable. A third party is not only an option, but may be the only cure. The two party system has been broken by its members, who only care about being and remaining in their "elite" group. Robert Levine's ideas about how to re-group with a third party made up of members who actually care about their constituents should be doggedly pursued and he explains how to get there. I found his ideas sound and very compelling.

In light of the current bipartisan gridlock in Washington so well defined by Dr Levine and the Republican Party Presidential circus currently going on, Dr Levine's book is a breath of fresh air. His analysis and reasoning makes sense for a centrist 3rd party to echo the needs of this country.

by Carl Stern (former NBC News correspondent). It is hard to believe so much useful information is packed into one book. Dr. Levine whom I have known for 50 years has assembled a primer on the sclerotic condition of the American political system and prescribed the therapy it needs to get back on its feet. His novel proposals for separating government from the corrupting influence of two-party politics may seem utopian but reminded me that the current design was not commanded by the Constitution nor exempted from creative reform.